As a small business owner, you understand the value great marketing has on your company overall. From positive brand recognition to customer loyalty, making the right marketing moves can launch your business in all of the right directions.
Unfortunately, you also understand that ultimately it’s the budget that rules the roost; and if you don’t have the money to market yourself, you’ll simply have to go without. But not so fast! There are some economical ways your promotions can go off with a bang, minus the upfront bucks.
Get Specific with Social Media
It should go without saying that thrifty entrepreneurs should take advantage of the virtually free benefits that come with social media. While most of you engage in the basic platforms, there are a few specifics worth zeroing in on.
Pay special attention to Twitter, which offers a specific method of customer interaction, the hashtag. Establish a hashtag for internal trends and contests to get employees and customers interacting. Also, keeping a database of pictures on Instagram will show off the collectively unique side of your business, its products and services, and your team’s humanity.
Blog Like It’s Your Job
Blogging can be a great way to market your business, and the key to connecting lies in giving back. Be sure that you don’t limit blogging to just your ideas and reflections; give your customers specific information they can use.
For example, if you own a restaurant, share a recipe. If you own an e-commerce accessory store, provide step-by-step directions to make a DIY jewelry box. Giving something back to your audience will establish trust among your followers and it will give them more of a reason to loyally follow you.
Understand Alternatives
Don’t have the time for all of this content creation? While it’s not recommended that you avoid the plethora of exposure online content creation can get you, we understand if you’re too busy to commit.
If you can’t create content, be sure to interact with it. Leave considerate, yet thought-provoking comments on relevant sites that already have captured your target audience, and capitalize on any gained chance of interaction.
Also, understand the alternative ways to gain a budget for your marketing cause. For example, a merchant cash advance can get you marketing dollars through a quick and streamlined process. And while the funds are expensive, pouring them back into your business makes for an ideal investment, as repayment works with the flow of your business.
What other thrifty marketing tips can help your business’s buzz?
About the author: Kelly Gregorio writes about topics that affect small businesses and entrepreneurs while working at Advantage Capital Funds, a provider of merchant cash advances. You can read her daily business blog here.